Council Approves Residential Assistance, Extends Local State of Emergency
April 7, 2020 — During the April 6, 2020, Wilsonville City Council meeting, the Council adopted a resolution to provide Wilsonville Community Sharing, a local non-profit, with up to $10,000 in additional funding to aid residents in the payment of City utility bills during the ongoing health crisis.
The Council also extended the City’s local state of emergency declaration through the end of May. Authorized on March 13 and ratified by City Council on March 16, the declaration provides the City’s Emergency Management staff with latitude to coordinate an effective response by redirecting funding for emergency use, implementing mutual aid agreements, suspending standard procurement procedures and making operational adjustments in the interest of public welfare.
An extended Communications period featured dialog with representatives from both Oregon U.S. Senators, State House Rep. Courtney Neron, Clackamas County Commissioner Ken Humberston and Wilsonville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Kevin O’Malley. Afterward, Councilors deliberated about how to coordinate emergency response programs to meet the needs of residents and business operators.
Programs being considered for implementation or future adoption by Council include:
- Additional residential grant support for Wilsonville Community Sharing to support rent assistance and utility assistance programs.
- A new City program to purchase gift cards from local retailers and distribute to in-need residents via Wilsonville Community Sharing and the Wilsonville Police Department.
- A business grant program for hospitality/tourism and other businesses, after additional work is completed to determine parameters and operations.
- A small-business resource center that would act as a referral source and clearing house for information on federal, state and regional business-assistance programs, host business webinars and other business education activities.
At a public hearing, the City adopted a resolution that adds two short-term capital projects to the Stormwater Master Plan, one in the Coffee Creek Industrial Area, another near the proposed Boeckman Dip Bridge. This action allows the projects to be added to the Capital Improvement Program and the projects become eligible for Stormwater System Development Charge funding.
In the interest of public safety, Council approved an amendment to the City code that temporarily loosens restrictions on properly-placed signs.
Mayor Tim Knapp signed proclamations recognizing Volunteer Appreciation Month and acknowledging Arbor Day and the City’s 22nd consecutive designation as a “Tree City USA.”
During the work session prior to the meeting, City engineering staff presented updates on work taking place near the Boeckman Road “dip” to determine the possible scope of a future road improvement project. The conversation included findings from a recently-completed fish passage assessment and tree inventory.
Tom Hickmann, CEO of Tualatin Valley Water District, delivered a short presentation on alternative project delivery methods. Alternatives to the traditional “design/bid/build” approach are being considered for the Boeckman Dip Bridge; Hickmann detailed how alternative delivery can often improve project outcomes.
City Planning staff shared an updated draft of the Equitable Housing Strategic Plan, informed by the Council’s direction at an earlier session. The Council deliberated about how to best prioritize the plan’s action items, which seek to make housing more affordable and attainable for more people in Wilsonville.
The next scheduled meeting of the City Council is Monday, April 20, at 7 pm; a pre-meeting work session begins at 5 pm. Prior to the April 20 meeting, an emergency meeting may be held to consider additional programs and policies to benefit of residents and business operators in need.
Community members can watch all City Council meetings on cable (Comcast/Xfinity Ch. 30, Frontier Ch. 32) or on the City’s YouTube channel: ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.
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